Want to lay a brick walkway at your home? Here’s the quick version:
A muddy trail through your yard is more than an eyesore. It tracks dirt inside, looks uninviting, and signals neglect to anyone approaching your front door.
A properly installed brick walkway solves all of that — and then some.
Brick paths are durable, classic, and surprisingly DIY-friendly. Unlike poured concrete, which can crack and requires specialized equipment to repair, a brick walkway on a sand-and-gravel base can last for decades. Individual bricks can be lifted and reset if needed. That makes brick one of the most forgiving and long-lasting hardscaping choices for homeowners in Massachusetts and southern New Hampshire.
But there’s a catch. The results depend almost entirely on what happens below the surface. A beautiful top layer laid on a weak foundation will shift, sink, and heave — especially in New England, where freeze-thaw cycles put serious stress on any outdoor surface.
This guide walks you through every step, from planning and materials to the final joint sand application. You’ll also learn when a project is a solid weekend DIY job and when it makes more sense to call in a professional hardscaping team.
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Before you pick up a shovel, you need a blueprint. Planning is where we determine the functionality and aesthetic of the path. Most front walkways should be between 3 and 4 feet wide to allow two people to walk side-by-side comfortably. For a secondary garden path, a width of 2 to 3 feet is usually sufficient to maintain a sense of scale.
Choosing a layout is where your personal style shines. You can explore various brick walkway patterns pictures to see how different arrangements change the “feel” of a landscape.
Common patterns include:
For a deeper dive into the technical standards of these layouts, the University of Missouri provides excellent resources on Building Brick Walks and Patios.
A common mistake we see is homeowners trying to use leftover wall bricks for a path. While they might look similar, they are structurally different. To lay a brick walkway that lasts, you must use pavers.
Brick pavers are kiln-fired at much higher temperatures than wall bricks. This process makes them incredibly dense and less porous. In our local climate—from Methuen, MA to Salem, NH—this density is vital. Because pavers absorb very little moisture, they can withstand the “freeze-thaw” cycle without cracking or flaking. Regular wall bricks will absorb water, which then freezes and expands, causing the brick to crumble within just a few seasons.
Using the right materials makes a brick paver walkway easy to install because they are manufactured to consistent dimensions, ensuring your joints stay tight and straight.
Accuracy in your material order prevents mid-project hardware store runs. As a general rule, plan on 4.5 to 5 standard bricks per square foot. If you are doing a complex basketweave, you might need up to 8 bricks per square foot depending on the brick size.
Always add a 10% overage to your brick count. This accounts for cuts, accidental breakage, or future repairs.
| Component | For a 20-Foot Walkway (3′ Wide) | For a 50-Foot Walkway (3′ Wide) |
|---|---|---|
| Bricks | ~300 – 330 units | ~750 – 825 units |
| Gravel Base | ~1.5 – 2 tons | ~4 – 5 tons |
| Bedding Sand | ~1 cubic yard | ~2.5 cubic yards |
| Polymeric Sand | 2 – 3 bags | 5 – 7 bags |
Note: Estimates based on a 4-inch gravel base and 1-inch sand bed.
Once the planning is done, it’s time for the heavy lifting. The longevity of your path is decided during the excavation and base preparation phases.
Detailed paver walkway installation requires a flat, clean trench. Remove all large rocks, roots, and organic debris that could decompose and cause the path to settle unevenly later.
Think of your foundation as the “skeleton” of the walkway. If the skeleton is weak, the whole project fails.
Learning how to install a paver walkway correctly means never stepping on your freshly screeded sand. Always work from the outside or from on top of the bricks you have already laid.
With the base ready, you can finally lay a brick walkway piece by piece. Start at a 90-degree corner or against a permanent structure like a porch or driveway.
Place each brick straight down into the sand—don’t slide them, or you’ll disturb the level bed. Give each brick a firm tap with a rubber mallet to set it. Periodically check your progress with a level. If a brick is too low, lift it, add a pinch of sand, and reset it.
Once the bricks are in place, install your edging. Plastic or metal paver edging should be tucked tightly against the bricks and secured with 10-inch steel spikes every 12 inches. This “locks” the bricks in place so they don’t migrate into your lawn over time.
Finally, fill the joints. We recommend polymeric sand. Unlike regular sand, polymeric sand contains binders that harden when misted with water. This creates a semi-rigid joint that resists weeds and ants. For a visual walkthrough of this process, HGTV’s guide on DIY brick pathways offers excellent step-by-step imagery.
In places like Andover, MA, or Windham, NH, the weather is our biggest adversary. The primary threat is frost heave. When water in the soil freezes, it expands upward. If your walkway doesn’t have proper drainage, the ice will push your bricks out of alignment, creating trip hazards.
To combat this, we always ensure a proper drainage pitch. A walkway should slope away from your home’s foundation at a rate of ¼ inch per foot. Additionally, using a deeper gravel base (up to 6 inches) in areas with heavy clay soil can provide extra “room” for drainage, protecting your investment.
If you are dealing with slopes, learning how to install a curved paver walkway involves careful cutting and more frequent leveling to ensure the pitch remains consistent through the turn. For homes with significant elevation changes, you may need to integrate a brick steps and walkway combination to transition safely between levels.
Installing a brick walkway is a labor-intensive project. While the materials are relatively affordable, the physical toll of excavating tons of soil and hauling gravel is significant.
When budgeting for your project, it is helpful to look at industry averages. Based on general internet data, the cost to professionally install a brick walkway typically ranges from $12 to $45 per square foot.
Please note: These are average costs based on national internet data and are not the actual costs of Dube Property Maintenance & Hardscaping. Prices vary significantly based on material quality, site accessibility, and project complexity.
A 20-foot walkway might cost anywhere from $700 in basic materials for a DIYer to over $3,000 for a complex, professionally installed path with premium pavers and site corrections. While DIY saves on labor, a paver walkway company brings heavy machinery—like skid steers and industrial plate compactors—that ensure a level of compaction a hand tamper simply cannot reach. You can find more details on our cost of installing paver walkway page.
As mentioned earlier, it comes down to durability. Brick pavers are solid, lack the “holes” often found in wall bricks, and are fired at higher temperatures to resist water absorption. Wall bricks will shatter during a New England winter if placed on the ground; pavers will not.
The secret is polymeric sand and a solid base. The landscape fabric at the bottom prevents weeds from growing up from the soil, while the hardened polymeric sand in the joints prevents wind-blown seeds from taking root and stops ants from excavating the sand underneath your bricks.
If your path involves significant slopes, requires retaining walls, or if you simply don’t have the 20-40 hours of free time required for a 25-foot path, it’s time to call the pros. Professional installation ensures that the drainage and compaction are handled correctly the first time, preventing costly repairs down the road.
Whether you choose to lay a brick walkway yourself or partner with a professional team, the result is a timeless addition to your home. A well-built path doesn’t just guide guests to your door; it adds structural beauty and value to your property that lasts for generations.
At Dube Property Maintenance & Hardscaping, we take pride in our deep understanding of the Massachusetts and Southern New Hampshire landscape. From the rocky soils of Dracut to the historic neighborhoods of North Andover, we provide the expert craftsmanship required to build durable, beautiful hardscapes. If you’re ready to upgrade your curb appeal with a walkway installation that stands the test of time, we are here to help.
Our professional team serves residential and commercial clients year-round, ensuring your outdoor spaces are as functional as they are beautiful. Let us handle the heavy lifting so you can enjoy the view.
